Long Ball Powers Cards to a Win

(St. Louis)--Tony Cruz socked a three-run homer, Kolten Wong hit a two-run shot and Randal Grichuk added a solo shot as St. Louis earned its fourth straight win, 8-4 over Cincinnati.

Michael Wacha allowed two runs in 4 2/3 innings, his longest outing in three starts since landing on the disabled list in mid-June with right shoulder pain.

- The Redbirds lead the NL Central by 3  1/2 games over Pittsburgh after the Pirates were beaten 1-0 by Milwaukee. The game was scoreless until Logan Schafer lifted a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded in the ninth, allowing the Brewers to pull within 3  1/2 games of the Bucs for the NL's second wild-card berth. Milwaukee's bullpen worked 4 1/3 shutout innings, one day after the Brewers' relievers blew a 2-0 lead in the eighth inning of Friday's loss in Pittsburgh.

Hear the Cardinals and Reds Sunday evening on KHMO at 6:10.